Midterm 1 (Greek Words for English Definitions)

Question 1

The upper region of air, the habitation of the gods, and from the 5th century onwards, of certain dead.

Answer 1

Aither

Question 2

any supernatural being, occasionally a guardian spirit that guides the dead to the underworld

Answer 2

Daimon

Question 3

a modern description of the handshake motif in ancient greek art. possibly intended to symbolise the theme of reunion in Hades

Answer 3

Dexiosis

Question 4

an image of a dead person appearing on earth, in dreams, or in hades.

Answer 4

Eidolon

Question 5

the world of the dead (literally translates to “there”)

Answer 5

Ekei

Question 6

The world of the living (literally translates to “here”)

Answer 6

Enthade

Question 7

The prerogative or due of the dead

Answer 7

Geras Thanonton

Question 8

the decent to the underworld by a living or divine being; a description of such decent

Answer 8

Katabasis

Question 9

the fate of death; ones personal doom

Answer 9

ker

Question 10

the rite by which ghosts are summoned to appear; any pictorial or literary description of the underworld

Answer 10

Nekyia

Question 11

The ‘soul’ of the dead as existing in Hades, lacking any apparent function in a living organism

Answer 11

Psyche

Question 12

a title applied to Hermes as conductor of psychai (He brings people to the underworld)

Answer 12

Psychopompos

Question 13

The struggle of the psyche to free itself from the body

Answer 13

Psychorrhagema

Question 14

the weighing of souls in a pair of scales

Answer 14

Psychostasia

Question 15

an image of a dead person (literally “a shadow”)

Answer 15

Skia

Question 16

The pit in Athens into which the bodies of condemned criminals were cast

Answer 16

barathron

Question 17

The ‘Peoples Grave’. was a ceremonial highway leading from the Dipylon Gate on the west side of Athens in the direction of the academy beside which the war dead and other important individuals were buried.

Answer 17

Demosian Sema

Question 18

A funeral mound or barrow; a family plot

Answer 18

Erion

Question 19

A shrine erected over the presumed burial spot of a hero

Answer 19

Heroon

Question 20

A cenotaph (an empty tomb or monument erected in honour of someone buried elsewhere)

Answer 20

Kenotaphion (or Kenon Mnema)

Question 21

‘The Potters’ Quarter’. A district on the west side of Athens outside the city wall which constituted the city chiefs cemetary.

Answer 21

Kerameikos

Question 22

A general word for grave. Literally meaning ‘memorial’

Answer 22

Mnema

Question 23

A Family Plot

Answer 23

Peribolos

Question 24

A communal grave

Answer 24

Polyandreion

Question 25

a general word for a grave. Literally means “sign”

Answer 25

Sema

Question 26

A rectangular wooden or stone grave-marker

Answer 26

Stele

Question 27

a funeral mound or barrow

Answer 27

Tymbos